Success in Ministering to Colds & Flus

How to minister to so-called “oft infirmities”.

The observation is that colds & flus have their possible roots in one or more of the following areas:

Discouragement – “There is a need in my life that God is not fulfilling”

Overwhelm, aka, tiredness – “God is giving me more than I can handle”

Taking thought for life – “There is something in my life God is not taking care of, so I have to do it”

Fear of contagion – “God is not protecting” and/or, “it’s just normal to get sick so I just accept it” (it’s not normal!!)

Belief in a physical, rather than spiritual, basis for healing – “it’s germs, not our mentality, that makes us sick” In other words, faith in the power of germs, rather than the power of God.

In ministering to colds & flu, we have often found an event in the person’s life one week or so before the cold that corresponds to one or more of the above scenarios. If you can help someone identify where they have been participating with one of those areas, you are half way there.

Why does the Bible call these thing “oft infirmities?” Think about it. How often do people get discouraged, or go into fear? Often. As we put off these things, we naturally get sick less.

Why then, do children get colds? The skeptics often ask. They aren’t thinking of the things mentioned above.

The answer lies in the beliefs of the parents & those around them (teachers, etc). Since children come under the authority of their parents, it is often what the parents are thinking that makes them susceptible. (How often do parents say “there’s something going around at school”). Focus on the negative feeds the belief. Children can also be subject to fear & discouragement, which weakens the immune system.

Here are the corresponding scriptures to replace the lies that make people susceptible to colds:

Discouragement – Phil 4:19 – But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Overwhelm – I Cor. 10:13 – There hath no temptation taken you but that which is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Taking thought for the life – Mt 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Fear of contagion – Lamentations 3:57 – Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee; thou saidist, Fear not.

Belief in a physical, rather than spiritual, basis for healing – John 6:63 – It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

And, of course, the prevention is the best cure: Proverbs 17:22 – A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

After going through the repentance process, of recognizing and repenting for your agreement with the above, tell the infirmity to go. Speak healing to the body. Speak to doubt & unbelief if the symptoms don’t go right away.

This lady has found that the symptoms usually go quickly and the person is back on their feet again within hours.